An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/halt

by Friedrich Kluge

halt, adverb, ‘moreover, forsooth, methinks,’ properly a comparative meaning ‘rather,’ Middle High German and Old High German halt, adverb, Old Saxon hald, ‘rather’; originally a comparative adverb of the posit. adverb halto, ‘very.’ The comparative ending, according to the law of apocope, has disappeared, as in baß for the earlier batiz; originally haldiz formed, like Gothic haldis, Old Icelandic heldr, ‘rather.’ In no case is it related to the Old High German adjective hald, ‘inclined,’ mentioned under Halde; with the exception of the Old High German halto, adverb, no other word in the posit. can be found.